History Books

In those days the city of Madina was witnessing important historical events. There was a day when in the Battle of Badr, which took place in the month of Ramazan 2 A.H., 313 Muslims gained a victory over 950 polytheists. They killed more than seventy...

In those days the city of Madina was witnessing im...

We have already mentioned that in the thirteenth year of the Prophet's mission the elders of Madina took the oath of allegiance to him in the valley of Mina, and Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib took a promise from them that they would not fail to assist the...

We have already mentioned that in the thirteenth y...

In the year 61 A.H. Imam Husayn went from Madina to Makkah and from there he reached near Kufa. At all these places he invited the people to assist him and to defend truth and reality, and delivered various speeches. This campaign lasted for more tha...

In the year 61 A.H. Imam Husayn went from Madina t...

On the very first day when the Holy Prophet made his call public according to the Command of Allah and was commissioned by the revelation: Warn your near relatives (Surah Ash-Shuara, 26: 214) to invite them to the true religion of Islam he said to hi...

On the very first day when the Holy Prophet made h...

Tabari writes that after the Imam had offered the noon prayers, Zuhyar bin Qayn engaged the enemy. While fighting he continued to say: "I am Zuhayr bin Qayn. I drive the enemies away from my Imam with my sword". Then he placed his hand on the shoulde...

Tabari writes that after the Imam had offered the ...

Whenever the word Sunnah has been used in the Holy Qur'an it has been used in this very literal meaning i.e. the manner in which Allah has treated the past nations. And whenever Allah says that His Sunnah is unalterable it means that there is a path ...

Whenever the word Sunnah has been used in the Holy...

We have already said that the speeches and addresses of the Ahlul Bayt remained prescribed and were free from distortion. They have been recorded in books and documents and have reached us through reliable sources. Today it is possible to narrate the...

We have already said that the speeches and address...

The Almighty Allah says: That nation, (Children of lbrahim) is gone. They have reaped what they sowed, and the same applies to you. You are not responsible for their deeds. (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:134) This verse has occurred in Surah al-Baqarah with id...

The Almighty Allah says: That nation, (Children of...

Imam Ali says: "O people! Your behavior with people should be in such away that if you die and depart from the world others should mourn your death and weep on account of, your absence and in case you are alive and exist amongst the people, they shou...

Imam Ali says: "O people! Your behavior with peopl...

At the time of the occurrence of the tragedy of Karbala there were a very limited number of Ahlul Bayt and the Shi'ah who could evaluate the importance of this event, speak about the effect which it was likely to have on future history and remove the...

At the time of the occurrence of the tragedy of Ka...

One should not, however, be oblivious of the fact that during the course of this everlasting and important event which took place in 61 A.H. some great and magnanimous women also participated and made sacrifices. So much so that some of them were eve...

One should not, however, be oblivious of the fact ...

According to Insanul Uyun, Seera-e Nabawiyya, Tarikh-e Tabari and Kamil Ibn Athir, when the Caesar received the Holy Prophet's letter he became curious and ordered a man from the Hijaz to be found out and brought to him so that he might make investig...

According to Insanul Uyun, Seera-e Nabawiyya, Tari...

The history of the sacred movement and rising of Imam Husayn is one of the most glorious chapters of the history of Islam. Although this period of less than a year was very short and transient from the point of view of length of time, it was very for...

The history of the sacred movement and rising of I...

In the month of Muharram 61 A.H. a terrific tragedy took place in Iraq on the bank of the river Euphrates. It seemed in those days to be trivial and insignificant from the historical point of view. A large army which had been mobilized by the Umayyad...

In the month of Muharram 61 A.H. a terrific traged...

The fourth Imam addressed the people of Kufa and delivered a sermon before them. After making a sign to them to keep silent, he said: "O people! Whoever knows me knows me, and he, who does not know me, should know that I am the son of that person, wh...

The fourth Imam addressed the people of Kufa and d...

Imam Sajjad was brought to Ibn Ziyad's court and made to stand before that. tyrant. "Who are you?" He asked the Imam. The Imam replied: "I am Ali ibn Husayn". He said: "Did Allah not kill Ali ibn Husayn?" The Imam replied: "I had a brother whose name...

Imam Sajjad was brought to Ibn Ziyad's court and m...

Notwithstanding all that has been said above it should be kept in mind that the tragic event of Karbala has remained more safe and immune from distortion as compared with most of the other historical events, and the event was so clear, explicit and u...

Notwithstanding all that has been said above it sh...

Imam Husayn rose for the sake of a sublime object. It was not his object that Yazid should cease to wield authority and instead of him he himself should come at the helm of affairs. In other words he had no personal grudge against Yazid. He supported...

Imam Husayn rose for the sake of a sublime object....

In the morning of the day of Ashura the horsemen of the enemy launched an attack on the ranks of the Imam. The Imam raised his hands in prayer and said: "O Lord! I depend on you in every affliction and am hopeful of Your blessing in every hardship. I...

In the morning of the day of Ashura the horsemen o...

The Imam commenced his speech thus: "I thank Allah to the best of my ability and praise Him during the time of weal and woe. a Lord! I thank You because You have honored us by means of Prophethoodt taught us the Qur'an, made us comprehend the religio...

The Imam commenced his speech thus: "I thank Allah...

During the night of Ashura the Imam and his companions offered prayers, sought Divine forgiveness, and made supplications. The night eventually came to end and the morning of their day of glory arrived. It has been written by Shaykh Mufid in his book...

During the night of Ashura the Imam and his compan...